This month, we invite readers to enjoy six new Seeds stories from students and alumni who captivate us with their shared desires to learn new skills and to realize stories and emotions through their art. We hear from Alex Hu, a student inspired by impressionist painters, and eager to pursue a career as a tattoo artist. Julian Turovsky and Betty Bui-Reilly tell us about their hopes to use their time at the League as an opportunity to develop dynamic and strong portfolios for future study. And Kathleen Halley-Segal shares how she draws inspiration from paintings by Alice Neel that portray working class communities of New York City. 

We also acknowledge both Asian American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month throughout May and share inspirational reads and upcoming shows from AAPI artists whose work sheds light on healing, history, and identity. Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, daughter of Thai and Indonesian immigrants, creates public art in service of her communities, focused on creating spaces for collective healing. On May 4^th, Just Between Us: From the Archives of Arlan Huang opens at Pearl River Mart gallery, showcasing works by Asian American artists and “weaving together art, conversation, mutual support and love that are the foundations of our neighborhood and community.” We also share the exhibition essay from KANTEN 観展: The Limits of History, a show on view at Apexart that reflects on the Asia Pacific War and highlights, “the ways in which the trauma of the past continues to have impact in the present.” 

Check back next month for our June newsletter!